Laclau examined the forces that drive populism and their relationship to our democracy. He advocates a leftist populism that can mobilise the critical power of the masses against the ruling powers. - This talk has been cancelled. Ernesto Laclau unexpectedly passed away on April 13th 2014.

Burning Ice - The concept of ‘resilience’ is increasingly prominent in reactions to the socio-ecological systemic crisis that is affecting us. The arts too have increasingly been talking about ‘resilience’ in recent years. In this salon curator Grégory Castéra will talk with Franck Leibovici and Amy Franceschini about the role ‘resilience’ plays in their artistic practice.

Burning Ice - The right to food is a fundamental human right, yet more than 800 million people still suffer from hunger, that’s about 15% of the world’s population. Olivier De Schutter is a special observer on food for the United Nations. In his talk he will look in greater depth at the most important features of a balanced global food system.

Burning Ice - Agrochemical companies have developed hybrid seeds and transgenetic variants in order to patent and market them. The negative consequences for biodiversity and small-scale agriculture are huge. The French lawyer Blanche Magarinos-Rey, adviser to the international organisation Kokopelli, is a specialist of the subject.

China and the European Union together produce more than a third of the world’s greenhouse gases. They both have a climate policy and are crucial to the aim of keeping climate change under control. Professor Qi Ye, who leads the Climate Policy Initiative at Qinghua University in Beijing, explains the advances China is making in its climate and energy policy. Jos Delbeke, Director-General of Climate Action in the European Commission, will unveil what the EU is doing on its side.

Investment in microfinance works. Incofin, the Belgian microfinance fund manager, wants to subject this statement to a reality test in a debate involving speakers from both home and abroad.

For the second time the Brussels Studies Institute will be bringing together several dozen researchers and thinkers to share their knowledge of Brussels with you. There will be incisive presentations and spirited discussions on controversial topics, larded with short performances by Brussels artists.

A book about new phenomena such as economic cooperation, peer-to-peer networks, urban agriculture, etc. which prepare the way for a post-capitalist society where the market will be subject to the public interest.
 

If your time seems scarce, if you're unsure how to juggle your own availability, if you dream of slow days or maybe faster ones, 'Imagine Work' proposes an opportunity to reflect, discuss and imagine what other kinds of working time might be possible. Prepare to meet, to think, to listen and argue together with the guests invited by SPIN.